Failsafe White Balance For Your Digital Camera

With all the high tech gadgetry that the digital world has brought to photography, one low tech way to get a perfect white balance is as close as your kitchen pantry. This little tip is one that I use every time I shoot and it never fails me. The trick is to set your custom white balance setting on your digital camera by placing a coffee filter in front of the lens and shooting the test shot in the custom white balance setting mode.

Since I shoot with a Nikon D1x, I'll show you how to do it on that camera. Follow your camera's instructions for exact instructions if you don't shoot with a D1X.

First I set the focus to manual mode by moving the focus lever on the left side of the camera to M. The camera will try to focus and will be unable to with the filter on, so setting to manual will make it easier. I then place a single white paper coffee filter over the lens. You can either hold it or use a rubber band to secure it on your lens. Just make sure if completely cover the front of your lens and your camera is pointing towards your subject. Next, hit the MONITOR button, then the MENU button.

Make sure your cursor is to the left and then scroll down to the Shooting Menu. Highlight White Bal cursor and move your cursor pad to the right. Choose WB Preset and then choose set, press shutter, cursor right to choose OK and your set. From then on, every shot will be setup with a perfect white balance.

You can do this with flash as well as cloudy and sunny days. The trick is to make sure if your lighting changes drastically, to reset the balance. Especially if you put your camera away and then shoot on another day. Shooting in RAW mode, will at least offer a recovery plan. I have seen other discussions on the net for using plastic lids and other opaque plastics, so experiment and see what works best for you.

I know this is a low tech trick in a high tech world, but this technique works every time.

Terry Divyak is a photographer based in the Pacific Northwest. His credits include magazine covers. He has been recognized as a top 10 photographer in international competition, as well as a winner in the travel category in Photo District News Magazine. His photography can be seen on his personal website at http://www.terrydivyak.com

The Best SLR Digital Cameras For 2009

The SLR, or Single Lens Reflex camera is the choice of professional photographers around the world for a lot of good reasons. Better quality lens, and the added flexibility to change lens when the situation calls for it are just a couple. A good SLR makes for some truly exceptional photographs. While the pros have come to rely on SLR as their first choice in camaras, there's no reason to assume that beginner, or serious amateur photographers can't benefit from the advantages of SLR cameras. With their considerably cheaper pricing over previous years, and the incorporation of many easy to use features found in inexpensive point and shoot cameras, the SLR is quickly becoming the choice of pros and the amateurs alike.

With that in mind, lets take an early look, at what promises to be the best DSLR cameras for 2009. As new cameras hit the streets in the coming months, be rest assured that prices will drop, and the number of features offered will only increase. We'll update this report as those cameras are released.

Nikon D90 DX 12.3MP & 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens

One of the first digital SLR cameras to offer at least basic video recording capabilities. Image quality is top rate. While the lens kit is a favorite of many, I can't totally say it's my first choice. The plastic mount feels a little cheap compared to the metal mount provided with the 70-300mm from Nkon. On the plus side though, it does have the same ISO functionality as the D300, which actually costs about $600 more. For under $1200, this is a lot of camera, but it needs to be handled with care because of the construction of the body. Given the price of it though, I expect many people would do that anyway. A solid performer.

Canon EOS 50D 15.1MP & EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens

If you want to feel like Joe-Super-Photographer, or maybe even Peter Parker, then this is the camera for you. It's a few hundred dollars more than the D90, but not without good reason. The 50D is truly a very adept camera, that produces eye watering photographs at any ISO setting. With very fast shutter times, and next to no lag, you won't miss a thing with this Canon. One point to ensure true photography bliss, is to pair the 50D up with a good lens. While the 28-135 is adequate, the EF 24-105mm f4.0L is a much better choice. The extra dollars will be forgotten about as soon as you start to develop the brilliant pictures produced by this very capable camera.

Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP & EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

While the Rebel XSi, is a substantially less expensive SLR then my prior two choices, I would be remiss, if I didn't include it in this discussion.

The Rebel series from Canon has been responsible for converting more point and shoot amateur photographers into true photographic geniuses, the likes of which even Ansel Adams would be proud. If your new to the world of SLR, then you can't go wrong with the XSi. If however, your a more advanced photographer, then the Nikon D90 or Canon 50D are likely better choices.

Gun Scopes

Gun scopes are an excellent way to magnify a target and hit it accurately. New technologies have made them smaller and more accurate. The latest trend in gun scopes is making them magnify greater distances while simultaneously becoming smaller in size. With traditional optics and lenses there are many limitations to scopes, to magnify something far away the scope has to be very large and long. This makes them excessively heavy which affects the accuracy of the shooter. Long distance shots were exceedingly difficult with even the most high powered gun scopes.

With the use of digital technology which is common in high end video and digital cameras a digital scope can see as far, or further, than an optical scope. The main advantage is weight and size savings but there are a number of other advantages that can be utilized with a digital gun scope.

Digital gun scopes can easily integrate a range finder into the scope without sacrificing space and weight. Night optics utilizing infrared are also much easier on digital versions. About the only disadvantage a digital scope has is its need for batteries and susceptibility to water. High end scopes are weather proofed to combat the latter, only extra batteries can combat the former.

One advantage is that the view finder does not have to be aligned with the barrel of the gun. This means that a gun can be shot around corners without exposing the person firing the weapon. A small camera is installed on the tip of the firearm which is connected to a viewfinder, often wirelessly. This has paved the way for even more interesting gun systems where the firearm is operated completely remotely. The US military has a number of small treaded vehicles that can have different guns mounted on them, such as the deadly 50mm cannon, and be controlled, sighted and fired completely remotely.

Having digital gun scopes has another huge advantage that no other gun has ever had, the ability for commanding officers, generals and other military personnel to view what is happening on the front lines in real time. This gives them a huge tactical advantage over troops that are less informed and advised from their commanders. Changes to protocol can be made and followed instantly which is vital to preventing war crimes, friendly fire and other dangerous or politically disastrous situations.

Probably the most high tech gun scopes are not really scopes at all and most people will never get to use or even see them as they are used experimentally by the military. They are more similar to a sonar system on a submarine than a traditional gun scope. A signal is emitted from various points, such as a soldiers back pack and various "buoys" that can be dropped from helicopters or predator drones or thrown into hostile areas by the troops themselves. Another sensor detects the discrepancies in the signal and creates a virtual environment of the area which can be shown on a screen in the soldier's gun sight.

With GPS technology ordinance can be pinpointed to a specific spot and the targets neutralized without ever exposing any soldiers to danger. For less destructive missions the soldiers can go in knowing where everyone is and what to expect which is very uncommon on the battlefield. Digital gun sights are making targeting easier while exposing the soldiers to less danger which gives the owners of this technology a huge advantage over those without it which also makes it necessary that it is only used in the right way.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for Web sites on parenting, recreation, and home decor. Her background also includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more of her useful articles on firearms, please visit Gun Scopes, supplier of useful information on guns and gun accessories.

Christmas Toys Every Child Wants

There have never been as many toys - new and old - available to give as Christmas gifts as there are now. Cutting through the clutter and finding the toys that children actually want seems like mission impossible to many people. Knowing what types of toys are popular with children doesn't have to be too difficult. Below is a list of some of the top Christmas toys every child wants in 2010.

Top Christmas Toys Every Child Wants in 2010

This list has been compiled from various sources.

• 
  Stinky The Garbage Truck - It has an awful name, but this truck from Mattel Matchbox is shaping up to be a big hit this Christmas.


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  Kidizoom Video Camera - This camcorder for small children is high-tech and is sure to be on many Christmas lists this year.


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  Kung Zhu hamsters - The hamsters are back - with another inexpensive toy that many children love.


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  Jet pack Buzz Lightyear - This toy is rather expensive, but many children are wanting it after seeing Toy Story 3 earlier this year.


• 
  Paper Jamz Guitar - The guitar has been around forever, but this year kids are going to be screaming for the Paper Jamz version.  They're made out of paper and very cheap. They use Touch technology and sound great.

If you see any of these items, it might be a good idea to get one while you can. There are no guarantees that the child you're buying a gift is going to like your selection, but these are some of the top toys that kids want in 2010. The old classics are sure to be favorites as well. From Barbie to LEGO blocks to GI Joe, there are many toys that have withstood the test of time and have been popular year after year.

K. Paul Mallasch is the publisher of Top Toys Blog, which has a great collection of top toys in 2010.

Key Fob Spy Camera

The key fob spy camera Recorder has to be one of the hottest new hidden camera recorder products currently available in the covert surveillance marketplace.

The spy key fob DVR camera is one of the most recent camera / recorder products to hit the market. This camera, as the name suggests, looks like a completely normal central-locking remote control for a car and a straightforward button press will start the unit recording the video and audio in its vicinity. Whilst very similar to the spy pen camera / recorder they can be used in somewhat different situations, possibly around the home or anywhere where it would not seem out of place to leave a set of keys. Set-up may also be a little easier where you can simply throw your keys on a surface, table or counter obviously trying to make sure the lens is pointing in the direction of your subject.

These little units are fitted with a standard micro SD card slot and will work with card sizes up to 16GB, which is enough to capture as much as 30 hours of video and audio data at VGA quality (640x480) and PAL 25 frames per second and NTSC 30 frames per second. However, the integral Lithium-ion battery will only power the unit for approximately 90 minutes before a recharge is required.

The key fob camera is just one of the covert camera gadgets that are now available. With the improvement of technical science, we will see numerous more variations on the camera / recorder product line. So watch this space but in the meantime you should always be careful with what you do and say as these days, you never know when someone is recording you.

Whenever you work with spy camera products you should get yourself completely up-to-date with the local laws pertaining to their operation. In many of instances, you may find that the recordings are not admissible as legal evidence and therefore may not be allowable for use in a court of law.

Chris Packer owns and runs several niche retail web sites of which, one markets and sells a range of spy camera equipment and hidden camera equipment and has been doing so since May 2001.

The Power of YouTube- How to Get Your Video Seen

A viral video can launch your brand into the stratosphere. But with all the videos out there, how can you make sure yours gets seen? While you never can predict with 100% certainty which videos will be knock-out successes, there are a few things you can do to raise your chances. Here are a few tips for making your video a viral success.

Make it short. People surfing online have lightning-quick attention spans. You may be able to do a longer video if you're showing it on your business's website for the purpose of instructing a select group, but on YouTube, it's got to be quick and catchy to thrive. Your video has a better chance of surviving in the cutthroat online market if it doesn't ask a lot of time from its viewers.

Make it funny (or shocking). This one should be obvious--but funny isn't always as effortless as it looks. The most effective viral videos inspire at least a chuckle, and they generally have a surprise twist at the end. So give your viewers something they're not expecting, and give them a reason to laugh.

Shock value also gets high ratings--the idea is to do things that can't be done on television, like off-color language, nudity, and controversy. Zoo, a Maxim-style men's magazine, did a viral video involving a topless model shopping for underwear--which worked for their demographic. Shock value may not be the best way to make a good impression on your customers, however, so make sure it's appropriate for your demographics.

Make it easy to relate to. If you do this well, you may be able to get away with a longer format. For example, one viral video shows a man delivering an increasingly manic rant about Macintosh computers. Since most of us can relate to being frustrated with technology, this video manages to make a longer format work--viewers will stick around to see the whole thing.

Don't make it look like an ad. You aren't likely to get a big viral following on a video that seems like a typical advertisement. Keep the sales pitch light--or nonexistent. Most successful viral videos have a home-grown feel: handheld cameras, no makeup, no professional lighting or sets.

If you must make it look like an ad--have fun with it. That said, there are some hilarious examples of viral videos that admit they're ads--and let the viewers in on the joke. Again, the more effective ones tend to be a bit too racy for regular television. The Zoo viral started with a line something like "Our boss gave us £10,000 to make an ad, but instead we decided to hire a model and film her underwear shopping." It sounds a bit rebellious and prankish, so even though they're still making an ad, it appeals perfectly to their primarily young male audience. It can be quite funny to have a polished, professional-looking video that looks like an ad, but goes against the grain in a significant way.

Market your video. Once you've come up with the perfect video concept, shot it, and uploaded it to video sharing sites, your job is just beginning. It's very unlikely that your video will be an immediate smash hit, no matter how well executed. There are many ways you can get the word out. Blog about it--or get well-read bloggers to bring it up. Get friends and family to view it and give it a good rating, just to get things started.

One effective way to get your video in front of a big audience is to leave a video response to another, high-traffic video. Be careful with this, however, or it could come off as spam. Pick videos that have a similar sensibility to yours, and don't do it more often than would seem natural.

Don't limit yourself to YouTube. It's the biggest name in video-sharing sites. But it's easy to get lost in the crowd at YouTube, because so many people are trying to do the same thing you are. This doesn't mean you shouldn't use YouTube. But you should also post it on sites that get a lot of traffic and aren't focused only on video. Because the competition to stand out isn't so fierce--and you still have a decent viewership--your video has a better chance to catch on. Try Metacafe, Google Video, and Yahoo Video in addition to YouTube. There are also sites like Revver that inserts a one-frame ad at the end of your video, and pay you every time a viewer clicks on it. Revver doesn't have the high viewer volume, but it can make you some cash.

Do more than one. A viral video is a great promotional tool--but there's always something hotter, newer, and funnier coming up behind you. Even with the most effective videos, success can be short-lived. To keep your company in front of viewers, do a series of videos. If your first one becomes a success, the others will be eagerly anticipated--and if you don't succeed on the first try, your next video will give you a second chance.

A viral video can get your company in front of thousands of viewers--and may make you a runaway success. But it can take some time and effort to get the ball rolling. With proper planning, effective marketing, and a hilarious video, you could be the next viral star.

Gareth D works at GSINC Ltd and UK company providing a range of web video and internet marketing services to business. For more information on GSINC, web videos and SEO visit http://www.gsinc.co.uk/

Video Surveillance Cameras Make Your Car Road-Worthy

Your vehicle darts along the road, continuing to speed faster and faster. You press on the brakes, and discover you've lost control over the vehicle's breaking system! Seconds later, you hit a wall. Proving Newton's law that "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction," your head whips back against the headrest. The airbag, which ballooned on impact, cushions your head. With your cranium buried in the inflated airbag, you feel like a dummy, and that is precisely what you are - a crash test dummy. To optimize what they could learn from you, researchers had placed a video surveillance camera on the wall. Such cameras remain useful throughout the life of an automobile.

The Production

From start to finish, the production of an automobile is a very precise and meticulous process. Video surveillance cameras are vital in ensuring that quality control is always maintained. They are mainly used for inspecting many parts, verifying that parts have been positioned properly and in 3D guidance of robots. For instance "smart" cameras are frequently used in various stages of automobile production. The camera helps robots "learn" certain parts. The robots, in turn, use a "vision processor" to verify that a correct product has been installed.

Along an automobile assembly line, video surveillance cameras are also used to monitor the totally automated installation of the windshield and rear-window. Cameras ensure that parts, such as panels, have been positioned accurately onto the vehicle's body.

The Testing

Many tests are conducted on automobiles. These are carried out to improve their quality and safety. One example is the crash test. High speed cameras, which can capture more frames per second than other cameras, are used. The camera helps to detail what happens to the passenger and automobile during the crash. Due to the high cost of crash tests, these cameras are invaluable in helping researchers obtain as much data as possible from the test. A video surveillance camera can be used for other types of tests on cars. For example, the road test checks whether or not the car is worthy to be driven on roads. Lastly, a video surveillance camera can be used to enforce quality control at emissions test centers, where the amount of pollutants that a vehicle produces is tested.

The Protection

In addition to assisting in the production and testing of automobiles, video surveillance cameras can also be used to safeguard automobiles from auto theft, a grave problem in America. Consider the following statistics.

* Every year, over one million vehicles are stolen in the United States.

* In 2005, the 2001 BMW M Roadster was the most frequently stolen passenger vehicle in the United States.

* In 2006, more vehicles were stolen in Las Vegas than in any other metropolitan area in the United States.

Mounted in places such as driveways, parking lots, parking garages, and car alarm stores, video surveillance cameras are valuable in protecting one's investment. In addition to capturing visual evidence against car thieves, they also serve as a deterrent for those who are thinking about taking someone else's Jaguar, Road Runner, or Bug.

There is no doubt that from the assembly line to the junkyard, video surveillance cameras shift gears to play vital roles in the lives of automobiles.

Thinking of buying a video surveillance camera? Visit our site today and find out more about security cameras and security camera systems.